It Begins in the Heart
“Search me, O God, and know my heart.” Those familiar words from the lips of David in Psalm 139 are the starting place of personal renewal. A widespread revival begins with a work in individual hearts. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (vv. 23-24)
Under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, this desire is a help in the renewal process. It leads believers to identify and confess sins which will open the way of genuine renewal. The psalmist also wrote, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” (Psalm 66:18) The Holy Spirit is faithful in responding to the desire to deal with sin. The issue is whether we will agree with God when He reveals our sins to us. And if we do acknowledge them, we are able to claim the promise of 1 John 1:9—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Bible declares that God will remove our sins from us “as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Of course, you must be honest about all of your sins. You are not informing the Lord, but simply agreeing with Him about them. Remember these three things: 1) Every sin is against God, so confess your sins to Him and make things right with Him. 2) If your sin is against another person, make things right with that person. 3) If your sin is against a group, make it right with the group. Genuine revival has always begun in the hearts of God’s people as they have confessed their sins, allowed the Holy Spirit to control their lives, and made themselves available to serve His kingdom.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
